Myocardial infarction and generalised anxiety disorder: 10-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND

Few studies have addressed the relationship between generalised anxiety disorder and cardiovascular prognosis using a diagnostic interview.

AIMS

To assess the association between generalised anxiety disorder and adverse outcomes in patients with myocardial infarction.

METHOD

Patients with acute myocardial infarction (n = 438) were recruited between 1997 and 2000 and were followed up until 2007. Current generalised anxiety disorder and post-myocardial infarction depression were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The end-point consisted of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular-related readmissions.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, 198 patients had an adverse event. Generalised anxiety disorder was associated with an increased rate of adverse events after adjustment for age and gender (hazard ratio: 1.94; 95% confidence interval: 1.14-3.30; P = 0.01). Additional adjustment for measures of cardiac disease severity and depression did not change the results.

CONCLUSIONS

Generalised anxiety disorder was associated with an almost twofold increased risk of adverse outcomes independent demographic and clinical variables and depression.